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Takanori Tomita's Japanese Tips - Nov.2004
Topic: Writing English names in Japanese
Issued by DSFY.com - http://www.dsfy.com
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Hi
This is Takanori Tomita
from DSFY.com
Today's monthly special
newsletter is about the
Writing English names in Japanese, and you
are going to extend your knowledge of Japanese
symbols by learning 2 examples of Japanese
Name Symbol called "Ya Ma Da", and
"Aileen"
Yamada - http://www.dsfy.com/yamada_JapaneseName.htm
Aileen - http://www.dsfy.com/Aileen_JapaneseName.htm
These symbols are used
for helping you to understand more about What
I am trying to explain in this newsletter's
topic [ Writing English Names in Japanese]
So, Let's Start!
Writing
names in Japanese.
 A
lot of Western people love to get their names
in Japanese, especially with the Japanese
script called, Kanji which
looks like the image on the lef.
But, we also use 2 other
Japanese scripts called Hiragana
and Katakana to write names
in Japanese.
So, which script is the
best one to use?
It depends on a type of name, and your choice!
You know, although the
majority of Japanese people have their names
in Kanji, some people have their names written
in Hiragana or Katakana.
How
about writing English names in Japanese?
We usually write English
names by using the Japanese Katakana
Script.
Because Katakana is usually used for writing
non-Japanese words which have been introduced
into the Japanese language. For example, if
you go to a McDonald in Japan, you will see
its names in Katakana.
So, Can't we use
Kanji or Hiragana to write English names in
Japanese?
|
Kanji
<Script 1> |
Hiragana
<Script 2> |
 |
 |
Yes, you can.
As I said, a lot of Western people prefer
to have their names in Kanji. In fact, there
are many western people have their name in
Kanji, especially those who live in Japan.
So, although we usually write English names
with Katakana script, there is no strict rule
that you cannot use either Kanji or Hiragana.
Take a look at the example
of Aileen in Kanji - http://www.dsfy.com/Aileen_JapaneseName.htm,
and this is written by using 2 Kanji characters
which literally means "Love and Bell".
This applies to another
example I gave you - a famous Japanese Surname
called "Ya Ma Da"
http://www.dsfy.com/yamada_JapaneseName.htm,
and literally means "Mountain field"
However, the Japanese
people don't think of them in this way at
all.
Names are always known as names not
meaning.
Then,
how names are translated in Japanese?
The Japanese Name Translation
is usually done by using the phonetic
Translation.
It means that a suitable Japanese character
is allocated by the sound of names.
There are roughly about 47 Katakana and Hiragana
character.
So, to write names in either Katakana
and Hiragna, We pick the one that
has got that sound.
But, with Kanji scripts,
there are too many characters to apply for
names, so, it is far more complex than that.
With
Kanji Scripts, there are 2 ways of
reading in Japanese.
The Kunyomi and the Onyomi.
The onyomi has developed from the original
Chinese pronunciation but
over the centuries it has been adapted to
and become part of the Japanese language.
On the other hand, the kunyomi is native Japanese
word.
To write names, we use
both kunyomi and Onyomi reading.
But, English names are usually translated
with Onyomi reading, and if the sound
of onyomi reading of a kanji character is
the same as the sound of your name, its kanji
character is allocated.
So, say if your name is
"Tom" which has got 2 different
sound parts. "To" "Me",
and whatever the kanji which has got the onyomi
reading of each sound is allocated.
But, there are also many
kanji characters that has got exactly the
same onyomi reading.
So, there can be many different ways
to write names in Kanji.
Now, if you want names
to be transalted, please visit at
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http://www.dsfy.com/JapaneseNameTranslation.htm
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Regards
Takanori Tomita
DSFY.com
"DeSign For You - Japanese Symbols"
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